Rivers

Water is my heart churning in white hydraulic
my tongue longing for a quiet pools, the skin of night
settling in, mayflies on the edge of moonlight

So wrote local poet Mike Delp in his “Mad Angler Manifesto,” a tribute Northern Michigan’s many rivers. Our streams, brooks and creeks offer anglers– as well as walkers, swimmers, canoers, and kayakers– some of the most intimate and profound experiences of Sleeping Bear Dunes. In the Sleeping Bear Dunes, there are two rivers. Both the Platte and the Crystal River offer excellent fishing, tubing, and tubing, though their navigability depends heavily on the season and the rainfall. Shalda and Otter Creeks offer excellent fishing, as well as prime opportunities to see beaver, muskrats, and other wildlife.

Area Highlights

Beaches

The waters are crystal clear, the dunes are just over the horizon, and on a clear day there‘s nowhere in the world we‘d…

Boating

For boaters, both power and sail, the combination of Lake Michigan and 26 inalnd lakes with sparkling, clean waters offers a perfect…

Canoeing & Kayaking

Thoese who enjoy the sometimes quieter pursuits of canoeing and kayaking won't be disappointed. Paddling beneath the 400 foot face…

Fishing

Fly fishers will discover diverse fishing opportunities set amidt some of the Midwest's most spectacular scenery. 

Inland Lakes

Lake Michigan is spectacular, but don‘t let it overshadow Leelanau County‘s many smaller lakes, which offer a more…

Glen Lake

Some people call it the crown jewel– we don‘t think that does it justice. It‘s our heart and soul, our alpha and…

Lake Leelanau

Whether you‘re looking for an idyllic fishing hole, a quirky gift shop, or an enticing vineyard, you‘ll find it on the…

Sailing

What could be better than the wind at your back and the dunes on the horizon? Sailing the Sleeping Bear Dunes  is one of the best…